So I was not particularly thinking « cool Beijing Dudes » this morning. First of all, most of the time, the men here look like a version of the lovelies photographed recently by Trev, author/photographer of the funniest blog about living ( and surviving) in Beijing « www.thetigerfather.com »

The very funny TigerFather recently covered the topic I had avoided like the plague all summer, namely « fat-chinese-dude-with-shirt-rolled-to-armpits », and whenever I see one/them – which is kinda all the time – I just firmly adjust my Chanel sunnies and pretend I am elsewhere, like Cap d’Antibes, where i could call the Fashion Police and have them arrested.

Anyway.

So today, like just about any other day, I was really not thinking about swag, or Chinese Stylish Men in general.

I was merely preparing for a couple of work-related interviews, and hoping to catch in North Sanlitun a few Belle du Jour I could later relate to the topics I am currently working on for FIB (to be continued later).

I was however on the lookout for men with purses (known as – don’t laugh MURSE – (Men+Purse=murse) because I recently found out that they represent +45% of sales of luxury handbags in China! That’s a massive 45%-50% of the $1.2 BILLION sales for Vuitton, Coach, Gucci, Hermes etc…

Yes, the marketing wizards at Vuitton know their audience in China! plus… YUM!

In other terms, it is hundreds of millions of euros/dollars/diamonds/whatever.

It is enormous! –

(and not to be confused with the lovely habit of Chinese men to carry their girlfriends/wives/daughters purse while shopping together. It is a common sight here to see a guy with a pink 2.55 or a turquoise Balenciaga Motorcycle on his shoulder while a few feet away a girl is shopping, both hands free and shoes matching to the purse. A MURSE is an important status symbol here, and as Chinese men are becoming wealthier, they show off that money with their (cars, mistress, clothes etc) AND purse/bags – which on top of it are also useful to carry their status i.Toys.

http://youtu.be/3tqQj4loAgg
The second I started looking around, I did see the murse. Everywhere. Men, of all shapes and ages walk around with bags across their shoulders, knapsacks, large « wallet » hanging from their wrists, designer computer bags etc…

And then today…. Boom, boom, boom, with the ever confidential « China Fashion Week » and « Beijing Design Week » looming close to the horizon, beautiful, stylish men started to fall from trees, like blondes in LA: « Shake one, three on the ground ».

As my beloved friend Jeffrey in NYC was asking me recently where were the boys in Beijing, today, I am proud to say. « A few were in front of me ».

STRIKE A POSE

You are welcome,

Gabrielle

by McQueen Sanlitun… Loved the floral shirt. He made it work, no small feat.